God 101: When kids teach

I was praying before our little altar at home when my 6-year-old nephew, Marc Ivan Cabrera, entered.

He quietly approached me then asked: "Nagdarasal ka, Ninang Joy." (Are you praying?)

I gave him a smile, held him, and told him: "Halika, ipagdarasal kita." (C'mon, I will pray for you.)

He grinned at me, with those charming eyes radiating joy as if I offered him "Judge," his favorite chewing gum.

When kids are around, I have been used to using my prayer time as a bonding session with them. I would grab the time to teach (at times even preach) them about being good and so on, thinking that they would keep my words in mind more seriously because we prayed for it.

That time, for Ivan, I was planning to tackle on his being a kuya (older brother) to Ingrid and his responsibilities as a sacristan (altar boy).

With my hands on his shoulders, I started praying aloud: "Jesus ito po si Ivan." (Jesus, this is Ivan.)

Before I could continue, he managed to quickly interrupt me and said: "Uy, kilala na Niya ‘ko!" (Hey, He knows me already.)

I went on to pray but was wearing a big smile the whole time.

Why not? Someone just reminded me that God knows everyone—including me. And it was a child.

Sometime last April, I had asked Morning to accompany me to an NBI kiosk in Megamall to have my clearance renewed. It was a double-purpose lakad because I could have my business matter accomplished, and at the same time fulfill my long overdue promise to have a stroll with my nephew in the biggest mall in town.

I had all expected it to be an easy, light day but the NBI thing ruined it. I was told that something was wrong with my record so I had to go to the Bureau’s office in Carriedo, Manila.

I was really upset but had to pretend that I was A-OK for Morning. We went strolling, watched the ice-skating kids, and had his favorite doughnuts. I laughed and played with him, but the NBI thing never escaped my thoughts the whole time. "Why, what was wrong with my records? Don't tell me I have a namesake."

Around 4:00 p.m., we proceeded to my brother’s workstation in one of the stalls at MRT Shaw Boulevard Station, some hundreds of meters away from Megamall. I had to leave Morning there because I have work at ABS-CBN at 5 p.m.

The stall was located at the southern side of the station so we would have to pass through the narrow bridge located at the side of the tall structure. It was an open bridge and was placed at the second level of the station.

For someone who’s afraid of heights, it was too high for me. Seeing the fast-moving cars downstairs made me tremble. And with Morning around I had second thoughts of passing that bridge. Thinking of my limited time to make it to my 5 p.m. duty, I was forced to brave it nonetheless.

Again, the most I could do was to feign that I was all right. I took a deep breath, positioned myself on the danger side, held Morning’s arms tightly, then headed toward the bridge.

As we took the stair adjoining the bridge, I told Morning, who I thought was walking carelessly: "Anak, dahan-dahan lang, hindi ka ba natatakot." (Child, take it slowly, aren't you afraid?)

What he told next completely erased my fears: "Bakit ako matatakot e nandiyan naman ang Diyos? Magtiwala ka lang hindi ka niya pababayaan." (Why should I be afraid when God is there? Just trust him and he will not forsake you.)

I recall telling him those exact words before. That time, it was him reminding me as if he knew I badly needed it. I really did.

I kept those words in mind until the day I had my NBI clearance renewal completed. It was clean. Nothing was wrong with my records, I’m just not sure with NBI’s system. :)

***

"He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done." --

Hebrews 4:13